Blackbutt Reserve

Since I was unable to visit Gap Creek Falls the other day, I decided I might pop in to have a look at the new animal enclosures at Blackbutt Reserve near Newcastle. I will say straight off the bat that I do have something of a prejudice against Blackbutt Reserve, as I see the place as nothing like a natural bush setting, it being far too ‘corrupted’ by human activity, weeds and the like. Having said that it is a good place for a family or group outing/event. It certainly has its place, but it is not a true nature reserve (in my opinion).

ABOVE: Visitor Centre

I do think that some well designed animal and bird enclosures at Blackbutt could lift the value of the reserve dramatically and make it a really great place for families, especially young families. There are opportunities for educational visits for kids, possible environmental activities and the like there. So the potential is certainly there for Blackbutt.

The enclosures of my youth are giving way to those that are much better and up to a more modern standard, which is great to see. Certainly the improvements I saw are great and some of them are outstanding. The Quoll enclosure, with nocturnal habitat viewing was brilliant. Some of the other enclosures are getting there also, though I was disappointed with the size of some of the aviaries and poor vegetation choices they appeared to have. They didn’t look to great for the birds, which I think is not a good look. Still, they are a major improvement on what had been there before.

Some of the other enclosures for snakes and amphibians were really good also I have to say and overall the place is going ahead and improving all of the time. So I think it has a place into the future, if it can continue to improve along the way. Just some thoughts…

ABOVE LEFT: Modern Enclosures  ABOVE RIGHT: Koala BELOW: Nocturnal Quoll Enclosure

Advertisement

DailyBooth

If you like taking photos and would love to have a place where you could post them in a way that is like a Blog, you may want to check out DailyBooth. It is a Blog for posting photos on a daily basis – or as regularly as you would like. Check out the site at:

http://dailybooth.com

I have just started my own PhotoBooth Profile at:

http://dailybooth.com/Particular_Kev

It is my intention to continue to maintain this Blog with daily posts of a photo, video, quote or a link. However, with DailyBooth, I’ll be seeking to post a photo a day – but the photo will not necessarily be taken on the particular day that it is Blogged there. I simply don’t take photos on a daily basis – I do however have quite the collection of photos from over the years.

Restarting The Blog

Over the last few weeks I have been doing a fair amount of consolidation of websites and reassessment of website plans, etc. I have now arrived at the decision that I will be able to continue this Blog – so I will be starting again tomorrow.

To mark the restarting of the Blog, I have given the site an overhaul – which I hope you like.

Gallipoli and the ANZACS: The Website

With Anzac Day having just past for another year, I thought I might continue the focus on Gallipoli for just another day. For everything you may want to know about Gallipoli and the legend of the ANZAC, visit:

http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

One of the things I’m really into is genealogy. I have been researching my family history for at least 10 years now, probably longer. This is something I spend quite a bit of time on and at the moment I probably spend at least 6 hours a week on it.

By the end of the year I am hoping to publish a book on my family history, which will be about 700-1000 pages long. It will be quite an effort to have it completed by then (that is the information I have thus far compiled), though the research will continue after the book is completed and there will undoubtedly by further updated editions down the track. It is exciting to know that there is a major milestone not too far away.